DAY 10 (May 6, 2011):
Sorek Valley, Kiriath Jearim, Beth Shemesh, Socoh, Gat, Mareshah, Lachish, Joppa, End of 1st Journey
This was a day of mixed emotions as we all knew our little band of brothers and sisters was about to disperse. Like all other days, we ate breakfast together at three large tables in the dining room. An hour’s extra time was allowed to pack our bags for the trip home (for all but six of our 39 travelers who, in three pairs with their own agendas would be staying in Israel). So, by 9 o’clock the bus’s engine was rumbling beneath our feet and we soon felt the jerk and roll as the gears engaged and the day began.
I truly wish it were possible to describe the sights and scenes of this (or any other) day in this not-nearly-long-enough sojourn in the ancient land of promise. This last day is particularly difficult to discuss though, because less time is spent at each site as we must cover a great deal of ground in the Shephelah (Lowlands) of Israel so as to make our way eventually up to Joppa, Tel Aviv, and the Ben Gurion Airport.
First we descended the beautiful and often steep Valley of Sorek from Jerusalem, westward, through wooded defiles, and finally out onto the low rolling hills of the very fertile lowlands which lie between the coastal plain and the central spine of mountains upon which Jerusalem sits. Along the way we paused at a place called Abu Ghosh for a vista viewpoint from which we could overlook several places where various Biblical events transpired. Eventually we came to the Tel of Beth Shemesh which I particularly found interesting since I’d spent a couple of years selling feed to Washington dairymen. I've no idea if anyone else realized that right across the valley, perhaps only a quarter of a mile away, sat what I immediately recognized was a rather large dairy farm. And here it was, right on the very route by which the Philistines returned the Ark of the Covenant on a cart pulled by two milk cows “lowing as they went” in 1 Samuel 6:7-15. And just to make the scene complete you’ll find in verse 13 that the people of Beth Shemesh were reaping their wheat when the cart came into view. On this day we say many fields “white unto harvest” and a few which had already been reaped. Just takes the breath away. This photo was taken from the site of the city. You can see a wheat field ready for harvest in the valley and the white roofs of the dairy barns on the far side. All you've got to do now is imagine a small cart pulled by two cows coming into the picture...
We drove through the very valley in which David fought Goliath. We came to Socoh, the place where the Philistines were camped. We saw Gath where Goliath was born. How can my tongue (or my fingers as I peck upon this keyboard) tell of it? Well, they can’t. But at Socoh we came upon three shepherds with their flocks. Two of these shepherds were herding sheep and goats. The third shepherd (whose name is Ferrell Jenkins) was leading a flock of tourists. For a few humorous moments we became one flock. See for yourself in these two 30-second (and poor quality) videos. My apologies for the sounds of our idling bus and passing traffic...
Well, we went on to Lachish, a city of great significance in Scripture and in history (look it up, it’ll do you good) but I can’t take the time to discuss it now.
We saw much more but the day was closing. Tired, but with minds full of Scriptural insight and hearts overflowing with the new found love we'd developed for each other, it was on to Joppa where all but one of our group gathered for a final meal in a seaside restaurant with a view of the sun setting over the Mediterranean Sea. That one unsociable soul who didn’t eat with the others? Well, he went for a swim instead. I’m sure he’d only be embarrassed if I mentioned his name, so I’ll leave it to you to guess. However, here is a photo he took of our last sunset together in Israel.
And so it was, with hugs all around (and some tears) we parted company at the Ben Gurion Airport. Then, Ashley & Ivy White, and Ferrell & I used a shuttle and then a rented car to return to Jerusalem. The Whites will spend a week exploring Jerusalem on their own. Dan Kingsley and his father in law (Paul Schreiner) were off for Tel Aviv but they’ll be back in Jerusalem on Monday. I myself will begin “Haverstock’s Second Journey” tomorrow.
Here’s a closing photo of our group (taken by that same unsociable lout who boycotted the dinner in Joppa). It was snapped as he stood on the lower terrace of Herod’s Northern Palace at Masada.
Shalom!
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